histrionic

UK: /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/ US: /ˌhɪstriˈɑnɪk/ ,(his′trē on′ik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

his•tri•on•ic /ˌhɪstriˈɑnɪk/   adj. [before a noun]

1. overly dramatic;
   melodramatic:
   a histrionic stage actor.
2. Show Business of or relating to actors or acting.

his•tri•on•i•cal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

his•tri•on•ic  (his′trē on′ik), adj. 

Also, his′tri•on′i•cal. 
1. Show Business of or pertaining to actors or acting.
2. deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional;
   overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.

n. 

3. Show Business an actor.

• Etruscan) + -icus -ic
• Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent. to histriōn- (stem of histriō) actor (said to be
• 1640–50

his′tri•on′i•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

histrionic / ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk/, histrionical adjective

1. excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial: histrionic gestures
2. dramatic

noun

1. (plural) melodramatic displays of temperament
2. (plural, functioning as singular) dramatics

Etymology: 17th Century: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor

ˌhistriˈonically adverb